Cupertino council votes to shift elections to even-numbered years

Candidates for Cupertino City Council could see their names alongside hopefuls for senate seats, California governors and even the president of the United States beginning in 2014.

The city council on Feb. 19 voted 4-1 to move the city's general municipal election to even-numbered years to coincide with the statewide general election. The ordinance change would see current council members serve an extra year, with the next election set for November 2014 rather than this coming November.

Cupertino's ordinance change will need approval from the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors.

The move would save money, as the city finds itself as one of the few remaining entities in the region holding elections in odd-numbered years. Only the cities of Cupertino and Sunnyvale and the Cupertino Union, Sunnyvale and Orchard school districts hold elections in odd years.

Cupertino Union is scheduled to discuss changing its elections to even-numbered years on Feb. 26. The Sunnyvale School District is considering similar action in March.

City staff told the council that a local jurisdiction's costs of holding its elections are considerably lower if elections are consolidated with the statewide general elections than if its elections are held in odd-numbered years.

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In Santa Clara County, the registrar's office charges local jurisdictions based on a rate that allocates the fixed costs of the election divided proportionately among the voters registered for that election.

The city anticipates the move could save the city approximately $59,000 or more per election year. To make this change, the city would have to pay a one-time charge of $20,000 to the registrar of voters.

The city of Sunnyvale placed a measure amending its city charter to shift elections to even years on its 2013 ballot. If voters approve the measure, it could also mean more cost savings per election for Cupertino, according to a staff report.

As a General Law city, Cupertino is prohibited from putting such measures on the ballot by ordinance.

This is the second time since 2010 the issue had been visited. The council at that time voted down the proposal.

City staff argued other merits for the change, namely a greater turnout during general elections. In the 2012 statewide general election, 81 percent of Cupertino registered voters participated, and in the 2010 statewide general election, 69 percent participated, according to the staff report.

However, only 40 percent of registered voters participated in the November 2011 municipal elections.

City staff conversely argued that voters in general elections could potentially be less prepared or informed than those in odd-year elections because of the greater number and higher profile of measures and elected offices on general election ballots.

Councilman Mark Santoro supported the change in 2010 and again this time around, citing a belief that more voters showing up to the polls is a positive. He said he did not subscribe to the belief that fewer but more informed voters make for a better election.

"Twice as many people vote, and I think that if you believe in the democratic process, then more people voting is good," he said.

The change necessitates adding an extra year to each council member's current term. These terms would expire in 2014 and 2016, rather than 2013 and 2015. State law allows an election date change, so long as the term in office is not increased more than 12 months.

Cupertino council members normally term out after eight years. The extra year will be the ninth for Mayor Orrin Mahoney and Santoro. Councilman Barry Chang, who cast the lone dissenting vote, would serve an extra year before deciding whether to run for re-election in 2014.

"It is self-serving. I don't think we should extend our own terms for one more year because the voters voted us in for four years, not five years," Chang said. "Yes, we have more voter turnout, but not necessarily a more informed or engaged" electorate.